Preparation and characterization of human scar acellular dermal matrix

Abstract

Introduction: Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is commonly used to treat burn injuries and wounds. In this study, we aimed to analyze the structural and biomechanical characteristics of an ADM from human scars.

Methods: We randomly selected human mature scars, human proliferative scars, and human normal skin as experimental specimens. Split-thickness dermal grafts were obtained using a free-hand graft knife. Samples were subjected to cell lysis to obtain ADMs. Structural analysis was performed via light microscopy, fluorescence microplate reader and scanning electron microscopy. Thereafter, human epithelial stem cells were incubated on these ADMs. Finally, the biomechanical characteristics of the ADMs were analyzed using a tensile machine.

Results: Normal skin ADM fibers were arranged in order, whereas proliferative scar ADM fibers were dense and disordered, and mature scar ADM fibers were porous and slightly disordered. The residual DNA of three ADM meet the residual DNA standard of biological material. After incubating human epithelial stem cells on ADMs, cells grew in an aggregated state in both normal skin ADMs and mature scar ADMs; however, cells adhered only on the surface of proliferative scar ADMs. No significant differences were observed in the Young’s modulus, relaxation slope, creep slope, creep, or maximum tensile stress among the three ADMs, although significant differences in stress–strain elongation and relaxation were noted.

Conclusions: Our findings showed that mature scar ADMs were similar to proliferative scar ADMs, showing a slight lag compared with normal skin ADMs, providing insights into the biomechanical features of these scar tissues.

Abbreviations
ADM	=	Acellular dermal matrix
H&E	=	Hematoxylin and eosin
PBS	=	Phosphate-buffered saline
SEM	=	Scanning electron microscopy

Keywords:

• Epithelial stem cells
• biomechanical characteristics
• scar tissue
• scanning electron microscopy

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences for support and National Natural Science Foundation of China for funding. And we also would like to thank Dr. Xiaolei Jin and Dr. Duyin Jiang for technical assistance.

Disclosure statement

Dr. Chenzhi Lai declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dr. Guodong Song declares that he has no conflict of interest. Bo Zhao declares that he has no conflict of interest. Hongquan Wang declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dr. Bo Pan declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dr. Xiaoshuang Guo declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dr. Xiaolei Jin declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dr. Xianlei Zong also declares that he has no conflict of interest.

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81201467) and the Major Program of the Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Science (Grant No. 1200415061).

Financial disclosure statement

Dr. Lai is a surgeon of Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Dr. Zong and Dr. Jin have no conflicts of interest to disclose with regard to this article.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.